GL5 



THREADLEAF SEDGE 



Ca'rex filifo'lia, syn. C. oreo' charts 



Flowers small, inconspicuous, each in 

 axil of a flower bract, borne in narrow, 

 solitary end cluster (spike); flowers of 

 2 kinds: male (staminate) and female 

 (pistillate) 



Male flowers borne on upper part of 

 spike, each with 3 stamens 



Female flowers 5 to 10 on lower part 

 of spike, each enclosed in saclike organ 

 (perigynium), somewhat rounded-tri- 

 angular, 2-ribbed, stout-beaked, tipped 

 by 3 threadlike, pollen-receiving organs 

 (stigmas) 



Flower bracts thin-papery, brownish, 

 with conspicuous, shining white, trans- 

 parent edges, broadly oval, blunt- 

 tipped or abruptly sharp-pointed 



"Seed" (achene) triangular, enclosed 

 $ in perigynium 



Leaves 3-ranked, threadlike, rather 

 stiff; basal sheaths dry, brown, at 

 length breaking up into fibers 



Stems (culms) densely tufted, solid, 

 3-angled, 3 to 14 in. high, longer than 

 leaves 



Roots fibrous, black, wiry, often form- 

 ing dense sod 



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